Getting in the Knits

I promised some knitting content in my last post and I can actually deliver on that promise. It has been hectic here at Chez Bean and knitting is the thing that pulls me through. I feel as if each little project is a statement that there is a bit more to my life than poopy diapers and juggling work with naps and household chores, etc. I have truly loved each of these little projects and am proud to have them piling up, almost ready or being worn or just languishing on the bedside table because who wears Endpaper Mitts when it is 85 degrees outside?

Without further ado, here are my Endpapers. I loved this project and found it to flow and develop much quicker than I anticipated at cast on. I love the colors, skeins that I have had sitting in the stash for years because I thought I would someday be a sock knitter. It is koigu and the colorway has been lost with the label. Knitted up on 1's and had to be reminded of color dominance between the first and second mitt. Read up a bit on it here and then I recommend you experiment as you knit as I think it depends on how you hold the strands and whether you knit continental, etc. I did wear them once and loved the feel and the freedom of fingerless hand warmers.

I also have cranked out quite a few on those cotton baby washclothes, the intended recipient has yet to arrive, but I am spelling out her name. I entertained the idea of knitting up a blanket then scratched it when I thought about the seaming it would require. Instead these will be hung up clothesline style at a very special baby shower I will be attending in March (up in the Redwoods, no less.)

And speaking of being a non-sock knitter, well, that is a bit of a lie. I cast on for the Tidepool Socks in the anklet form and found myself with a wearable pair in a few days. I LOVE THESE SOCKS! And I love that I can now imagine knitting socks because I plan on converting every pattern I yearn to knit into anklet form as that is the only sock I wear. The pattern requires a skein of Koigu, it is simple and fun and quick, quick, quick. I am kinda' thinking that any sock knit anklet style will be quick, eh? I have started a pair in Camo yarn for the hubs as he really liked mine. And I am wearing them right now....who would have thought hand knit socks were this comfortable? Maybe that is why knitters make them so often.

In other news, (aka Bean news because that is always my other news), we have two babies with lots of new teeth that seem to finally have stopped cutting and lots of new skills that include walking. Yes, walking. At first it was just stepping, but it rapidly progressed to at least 6-8 steps. Mason's are very wobbly, but Owen's are very deliberate and careful, somewhat like their respective personalities, actually. I have yet to catch it truly on video, but I will keep trying. As soon as Uncle Sam sends us our tax money, we are headed to the land of digital SLR...we have chosen the rebel XTi and a spectacular lens, so we will see. Hopefully my shots will only improve.

I cannot wait to procure this one very special item as we just find that they move so quickly and we miss so much. Hope it comes soon, before our trip to the REdwoods as I feel I must document that experience as vividly as possible (well, maybe not the 12 hour car ride. I shudder to think).

add: Once we do have the camera I think I might challenge myself to the 30 days (or 31 days) of picture taking as I feel the need to spark creativity in my life and challenge myself to take a fresh look at the surroundings I sometimes think are so dull. We will see, it seems like a very tall order right now.)